President William Ruto has now confirmed that Nyamira County will get a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station at Ikonge, putting to rest earlier fears that the area had been left out of the project.
Speaking on Monday during a development tour in Ikonge, the President said the government will put up the station at a cost of Ksh300 million.
He said the station will mainly help residents move both people and goods more easily, especially farmers who depend on transport to send their produce to markets in other parts of the country.
“I insisted that the railway passes through Ikonge, and we are building a station here worth Ksh300 million,” he said.
He advised residents to take advantage of the railway when it is constructed, adding that the railway will transport goods to towns like Nairobi and Kisumu.
This follows some of the complaints from residents and leaders who argued that while the SGR was to pass through Ikonge, no provision for a station was made. This would have resulted in their exclusion from any business deals connected to the railway.
Prior plans for the construction of the Naivasha-Kisumu SGR line had stops at other towns like Narok, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu, and Ahero, which worried Nyamira residents.
However, on his visit to Nyamira, local leaders welcomed the new development, noting that this will facilitate trade, as well as increase revenues for the local farmers.
Apart from the inclusion of the station, the President announced other projects in Nyamira County during his visit.
These include the improvement of over 100 km roads, upgrading of Nyamira Referral Hospital, building of markets, student accommodation and affordable housing.
Other projects he unveiled include the setting aside of Kshs 900 million for a stadium, while Nyamira University will be allocated over Kshs 700 million.
